US Soccer Broadcast Breaks New Ground, Setting Global Standard wiht “Champions league Today”
NEW YORK – A US-based soccer show has unexpectedly become the most influential in the world, reversing the traditional flow of broadcasting innovation and prompting UK networks to seek its playbook. CBS‘s “Champions League Today” has rapidly gained prominence,fueled by a unique approach that prioritizes chemistry,viral moments,and a willingness to take risks,according to CBS Sports VP of Production,Pete Radovich.
The success of “Champions League Today” is underscored by the growing viewership of the Champions League itself, which consistently draws notable audiences on US television. Key matches now attract over a million viewers on CBS, with the final reaching up to 2.8 million. This popularity has led CBS to extend its broadcast contract for the Champions League by six years, committing to an investment of $250 million per season – a figure that surpasses its spending on US rights to Formula One and matches the amount apple pays for global rights to Major League Soccer (MLS).
“We got lucky. We got the right crew together. We got the right chemistry. We just did some things that were good at the beginning, and people started paying attention. We started going viral. People started talking about our show. Next thing you know, people are more aware of the games,” Radovich explained.
The impact extends beyond viewership numbers. Broadcasters in the UK, long considered the benchmark for soccer coverage, are now looking to CBS for inspiration. “Jamie [Carragher] and Micah [Richards] are getting lots of questions from their UK broadcasters like ‘How can we be more like CBS?’ That’s all I’ll say,” Radovich revealed.
Radovich, while acknowledging his respect for British sports broadcasting, believes “Champions League Today” is unmatched. “We’re crushing everyone and everyone’s chasing,” he stated. “The fact we are able to take a European sport and make the biggest [soccer show] around the world … its impossible. It would be like England having an NFL show that everyone in America was envious of.”
He attributes the show’s success to a willingness to deviate from established norms. ”But we did it because we took chances and we did it our way,” he said, adding that this achievement is the proudest moment of his career.
